Their LTE network is built on 2.5 MHz blocks, whereas Verizon and AT&T are building on 10 MHz blocks in most areas. Also, 95% of a few cities isn't too impressive. Carriers like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile would cover a large portion of the US to say they had 95% of their coverage area covered by LTE.

Basically, MetroPCS is cutting a lot of corners to get LTE on the cheap. For a small prepaid carrier, that's not necessarily a bad thing (since they have less capital than the big guys), but it's unfair to compare MetroPCS to Sprint or any of the other major carriers.

Jellz said:Their LTE network is built on 2.5 MHz blocks, whereas Verizon and AT&T are building on 10 MHz blocks in most areas. Also, 95% of a few cities isn't too impressive. Carriers like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile would cover a large portion of the US to say they had 95% of their coverage area covered by LTE.

Basically, MetroPCS is cutting a lot of corners to get LTE on the cheap. For a small prepaid carrier, that's not necessarily a bad thing (since they have less capital than the big guys), but it's unfair to compare MetroPCS to Sprint or any of the other major carriers.

It works for MetroPCS because it's dirt cheap and people don't care. Plus it's waaaaaaay faster than 1X so people are ...(continues)

Haven't really looked at what Sprint is planning. Wouldn't be surprised, though. AT&T is using 5 MHz blocks in some places too, where they just don't own the spectrum. I heard that was the case with Chicago, and speeds were noticeably slower than they were in, say, Dallas.